Digging bucket



W. C. BOTT DIGGING BUCKET Aug. 14, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 24, 1955 War/re 6. Barr INVENTOR.

Aug. 14, 1956 W. C. BOTT DIGGING BUCKET Filed Jan. 24, 1955 R i 1v :5 Shee ts-Sheet 2 Fig. 4

Fig. 5

Wa/fer 6. Bar? INVENTOR.

W. C. BOTT DIGGING BUCKET Aug. 14, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 24, 1955 Walter 6. Ban

INVENTOR.

2,758,398 DIGGING BUCKET Walter C. Bott, Snohomish, Wash. Application January 24, 1955, Serial No. 483,482 8 Claims. (Cl. 37-187) This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in earth moving equipment, and more specifically to an improved digging bucket.

In the average bucket construction, such as that of the clamshell type, it is easy to provide a linkage of such a nature whereby the bottom doors of the bucket are automatically closed upon the application of a lifting force to the bucket. However, the main problem in the design and construction of buckets of this type is to provide means for rendering inoperative the means for closing the doors of the bucket when it is being lowered into a digging position because of the lifting force imposed thereupon.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide an improved mechanism for rendering inoperative the linkage for automatically closing the bottom doors of a digging bucket upon the application of a lifting or supporting force to the bucket.

Another object of this invention is to provide a relatively simple mechanism for actuating the bottom doors of a bucket upon the application of a lifting force to the bucket, the linkage including merely a pair of cross arms pivotally connected together and connected to both the bottom doors and a lifting assembly by other links whereby a scissors operation is effected to result in the closing of the bottom doors.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved digging bucket which includes pivotally mounted bottom doors closable upon the application of a lifting force to the bucket, the bucket including hoist means attached to the bottom doors for automatically closing the same, the hoist means having a weight such that the mechanism for controlling the operation of the bottom doors is automatically tripped to effect opening thereof upon the release of a lifting force upon the hoist means.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved means for selectively locking mechanism usually closing bottom doors of a digging bucket upon the application of a lifting force thereto, the means being in the form of a ground engageable operator connected to a link in such a manner whereby the link is moved to a linkage locking position upon the resting of the bucket upon its side with the ground engager operator being tripped by the weight of the bucket.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is an elevational view of the digging bucket which is the subject of this invention and shows it in an at rest position with the bottom doors thereof open;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by section line 2-2 of Figure l and shows the specific details of both the lifting mechanism and the operator for rendering the linkage for the bottom doors ineffective;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section nited States Patent Patented Aug. 14, 1956 2 line 33 of Figure 2, and shows the details of the linkage for automatically closing the bottom doors upon the application of a lifting force to the hoist means of the digging bucket, the bottom door closing position of the linkage being shown in broken lines;

Figure 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of Figure 3 and shows the general relationship of the linkage for effecting closing of the bottom doors;

Figure 5 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of Figure 3 and shows further the details of the linkage for effecting closing of the bottom doors of the bucket;

Figure 6 is an enlarged rotated elevational view showing the bucket lying upon its side for the purpose of tripping the operator whereby the linkage for closing the bottom doors is locked against movement so as to retain the bottom doors in an open position;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the bucket of Figure 1 taken from the side opposite that illustrated in Figure 1 and shows the general relationship of the linkage and a latch member when a lifting force is applied to the bucket and the bottom doors thereof are closed; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary elevational view similar to Figure 7 and shows the effect of the latch member upon the linkage when placed in a linkage locking position.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the lifting bucket, which is the subject of this invention, is referred to in general by the reference numeral 10. The lifting bucket 10 includes a relatively tall, cylindrical bucket 12. Carried by the lower portion of the bucket on the exterior face thereof is a plurality of downwardly opened, inverted U-shaped mounting brackets 14. The mounting brackets 14 are circumferentially spaced and have removably mounted therein through means of fasteners 16 upper ends of legs 18 which support the bucket 12 with respect to the ground. If desired, the legs 18 may also be sharpened to act as chisel points in the loosening of the ground when the bucket 12 is dropped.

The lower end of the bucket 12 terminates in a pair of depending side walls 20 and a pair of pivotally mounted bottom walls 22. As is best illustrated in Figure 3, the bottom walls 22 are pivotally mounted on transverse pivot pins 24 which extend between and are carried by the side walls 20. When the bottom Walls 22 are moved to a bottom forming position, they cooperate with each other and with the side walls 20 to close the bottom of the bucket 12.

Disposed above the lower edge of the bucket 12 is a circumferential reinforcing ring 26. The reinforcing rings 26 are engaged by upper flanges 28 of the bottom walls 22 so as to limit inward swinging of the bottom walls 22. Also, the dirt and muck which may be disposed within the bucket 12 will rest upon the flanges 28 when the bottom walls 22 are in their closed positions to aid in the retention of the bottom walls 22 in their closed positions.

In order that the bucket 12 may be selectively elevated, there is provided hoist means which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 30 and which are best illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The hoist means 30 project above the bucket 12 and include a lifting plate 32 which has secured thereto a pair of spaced depending ears 34. Connected to the cars 34 within the confines thereof by means of bolt 36 is a pair of spaced, parallel lifting straps 38. The upper ends of the lifting straps 33 are spaced apart by a suitable spacer 40 carried by the bolt 36. The-lifting straps 38 are also spaced intermediate their ends by a spacer 42.

Disposed inwardly of the lifting straps 38, is a pair of spaced, parallel lifting bars 44. The lifting bars 44 have the upper ends thereof connected together by a bolt 46 which is of a length-so as toalso pass through elongated vertical slots 48 in the lifting straps.38. Carried by the bolt 46 is a spacer 50 which retains the upper ends of the lifting bars 44 in spaced relation.

The lifting bars 44' are connected together adjacent their lower ends by a: pivot bolt 52; The pivot bolt 52 also pivotally connects to the lifting bars 44 a pair of up per links 54. The pivot bolt 52 is of a length to extend through the lifting straps 38 and is seated in elongated vertical slots56 formed therein.

Carried by the upper edge of the bucket 12 and reinforced by bars 58 are plate members 60 which also may be considered top wall forming members. The plates 60 have inner edges in spaced parallel relation and inelude depending flanges 62 whi'ch are also=in spaced parallel relation.

Extending upwardly from the plates 60 is a pair of guides plates 64 and 66 The guide plate 66 is reinforced relative to its associated plate 66by a gusset 68 and the guide plate 64 is'reinforced' relative to its associated plate 68 by a block 69.

The guide plates 64 and 66 are so spaced relative to each other so as to guidingly receive lower end portions of the lifting straps 38'. The lower ends of the lifting straps 38 are connected together by a transverse strap 7a! which is of a length to project into vertical slots 72.

formed in the guide plates'64' and 66.

Extending between the flanges 62 is a pivot bolt 74 on which are mounted intermediate portions of crossed arms 7 6 and 78-, the arms 76 and 78 crossing at the point of the pivot bolt- 74. The arms 76 and 78 extend upwardly out of the bucket 12 through the space between the plates 60 and are connected to the upper links 54 by pivot bolts 88 and 82, respectively.

Secured to the inner or upper faces of the bottom walls 22 in slightly offset relation are a pair of operating arms 84. thereto by pivot pins 86 lower links 88. The opposite ends of the links 88 are connected by pivot pins 90 to the lower ends of the arms 76 and 78.

In the normal operation of thedigging bucket 10, a line is attached to the lifting plate 32. When the line is tensioned to apply a lifting force to the hoist means 30, the lifting plate 32 together with the lifting straps 38 moves upwardly. After the lifting straps 38 move upwardly a slight distance, the strap 70 becomes seated in notches 92 formed in the lower ends of. the lifting bars 44, as is best illustrated in Figure 3. At the same time, the spacer 42 seats in the upper. ends of slots 94 formed in the lifting bars 44, as is best illustrated in Figure 2. Fur ther, the bolts 46 and 52 bottom in the lower ends oftheir associated slots 48 and 56, respectively. This results in the upward movement of the. lifting; straps 44 after aninitial upward movement of the lifting straps 38.

inasmuch as the links 54' are connected to the lifting bars 44 by means of the pivot bolt 52, it will be readily apparent that the links 54 move upwardly, thereby urging the pivot bolts 80 and 82 towards each other due to the downward weight of the bucket 12 and its associated components. As the upper ends of the arms 76 and 78 move toward each other, the lower ends do the same with the resultthat through the use of the linkage connected to the lower ends of the arms 76 and 78, the bottom walls 22 are automatically moved to closed positions. The bottom walls 22 remain in their closed positions as long as a lifting force is placed on. the hoist means 30. Once the lifting force has been released from the hoist means and the bucket 12 has. been seated back on its legs 18, the weight of the hoist means-30' will be sufficient to reverse the pivoting of the arms 76 and 78 and open thebottom walls 22.

The operating arms 84 have pivotally connected In order that the bottom walls 22 may be selectively locked in open positions, there is pivotally connected to the upper portion of the arms 76 by means of a pivot bolt 96 a latch member 98. The latch member 98 is provided with an upwardly open recess 100 receivable over a pin 192 carried by the upper portion of the arms 78 to lock the arms 76 and 78 against relative movement.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 6 in particular, it will be seen that carried by the plate 60 to which the block 69 is attached adjacent the outer edge of the plate 60, is a pair of spaced ears 104 which have extending therebetween a pivot pin 106. Pivotally mounted on the pivot pin 106 is an operator block 108 engageable with the ground.

The upper portion of the operator block 108 is provided with a mounting bracket 11% carrying a pivot pin 112. iivotally mounted on the pivot pin 112 is a push rod 114 which is engaged over acam portion 116 of a lever 118.. The opposite end of the lever 118-is provided with a projection 120 which underlies the latch member 98 adjacent the free end thereof; Thelever 118 is pivotally carried bya pivot pin 122 which is, in turn, supported by the guide plate 64; It is to be noted that the operator block 188 is normally urged to-a position projecting out wardly ofthe periphery of the bucket 12 by a spring 124.

The spring 124 engages with a stopplate 126 secured to the block 69.

After a load has been dumped from the bucket 12, and it is desired to again reload the bucket 12, the bucket is rested upon its side, asis best illustrated in Figure 6. In: doing so, the operator block 108 engages the ground, and through the use of the push rod 114, pivots the lever 118- so that the lever 118 moves the latch member 98 to the position illustrated in Figure 8. The latch member 93 thenforms a bridge betweenthe upper ends of the arms 76 and'78 so as to lock them against relative movement. Then, when lifting pressure is placed on the hoist means 38, the bucket 12 will be lifted without the closing of the bottom walls 22 through the use of the arms 76 and 78. The bucket 12 is next lowered into position and a lifting force released from the hoist means 30. This results in the hoist means 30 moving downwardly and the trans verse straps 70 engaging the latchmember 98 to disengage modifications and' changes will readily occur to those I skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to. the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

. Whatisclaimed as-new is as vfollows:

l. A digging bucket assembly comprising a bucket, doors pivotally mounted in a lower portion of said bucket for selectively closing a bottom of said bucket, hoist means for said bucket projecting thereabove, linkage between said hoist means and said doors for automatically closing said doors in response to upward. movement of said hoist means, a latch member connected to said linkage for selectively rendering said linkage inoperative, whereby saidhoist means may be elevated to lift said bucket without closing said doors, and an operating means engageablewith said latch member for selectively moving said latch member into. its linkage locking position, said operator means including a lever pivotally mounted relative to said bucket andengaged with said l-atchmember, an operator block pivotally mounted relative to said bucket, means connecting said operator block to said lever, said operator block projecting outwardly of said bucket and being one gageable with the ground when said bucket is laid on its for said bucket projecting thereabove, linkage between said hoist means and said doors for automatically closing said doors in response to upward movement of said hoist means, a latch member connected to said linkage for selectively rendering said linkage inoperative, whereby said hoist means may be elevated to lift said bucket without closing said doors, and an operator means engageable with said latch member for selectively moving said latch member into its linkage locking position, said operator means including an operator block projecting outwardly of said bucket and being engageable with the ground when said bucket is laid on its side to set said latch member.

3. A digging bucket assembly comprising a bucket, doors pivotally mounted in a lower portion of said bucket for selectively closing a bottom of said bucket, hoist means for said bucket projecting thereabove, linkage between said hoist means and said doors for automatically closing said doors in response to upward movement of said hoist means, a latch member connected to said linkage for selectively rendering said linkage inoperative, whereby said hoist means may be elevated to lift said bucket without closing said doors, said linkage including a pair of arms pivotally connected together in crossed relation, links, pivot pins connecting said links to said arms and to said doors and said hoist means, said latch member being pivoted to one of said arms and lockingly engageable with a latch pin carried by the other of said arms to prevent relative movement between said arms.

4. A digging bucket assembly comprising a bucket, doors pivotally mounted in a lower portion of said bucket for selectively closing a bottom of said bucket, hoist means for said bucket projecting thereabove, linkage between said hoist means and said doors for automatically closing said doors in response to upward movement of said hoist means, a latch member connected to said linkage for selectively rendering said linkage inoperative, whereby said hoist means may be elevated to lift said bucket without closing said doors, said linkage including a pair of cross-arms pivotally connected together, links, pivot pins connecting said links to said arms, said latch member being pivoted to one of said arms and lockingly engageable with a latch pin carried by the other of said arms to prevent relative movement between said arms, said latch member having an upwardly open socket receiving said latch pin of said other arm whereby said latch member is automatically released upon removal of upward force on said hoist means.

5. A digging bucket assembly comprising a bucket, doors pivotally mounted in a lower portion of said bucket for selectively closing a bottom of said bucket, hoist means for said bucket projecting thereabove, linkage between said hoist means and said doors for automatically closing said doors in response to upward movement of said hoist means, 'a latch member connected to said linkage for selectively rendering said linkage inoperative, whereby said hoist means may be elevated to lift said bucket without closing said doors, said linkage including a pair of arms pivotally connected together in closed relation, links, pivot pins connecting said links to said arms and to said doors and said hoist means, said latch member being pivoted to one of said arms and lockingly engageable with a latch pin carried by the other of said arms to prevent relative movement between said arms, and an operator means engageable with said latch member for selectively moving said latch member into its linkage locking position.

6. A digging bucket assembly comprising a bucket, doors pivotally mounted in a lower portion of said bucket for selectively closing a bottom of said bucket, hoist means for said bucket projecting thereabove, linkage between said hoist means and said doors for automatically closing said doors in response to upward movement of said hoist means, a latch member connected to said linkage for selectively rendering said linkage inoperative, whereby said hoist means may be elevated to lift said bucket without closing said doors, said linkage including a pair of cross-arms pivotally connected together, links, pivot pins connecting said links to said arms, said latch member being pivoted to one of said arms and lockingly engageable with a latch pin carried by the other of said arms to prevent relative movement between said arms, and an operator means engageable with said latch member for selectively moving said latch member into its linkage locking position, said operator means including a lever pivotally mounted relative to said bucket and engaged with said latch member, an operator block pivotally mounted relative to said bucket, means connecting said operator block to said lever, said operator block projecting outwardly of said bucket and beingvengageable with the ground when said bucket is laid'on its side to set said latch member.

7. A digging bucket assembly comprising a bucket, doors pivotally mounted in a lower portion of said bucket for selectively closing a bottom of said bucket, hoist means for said bucket projecting thereabove, linkage between said hoist means and said doors for automatically closing said doors in response to upward movement of said hoist means, a latch member connected to said linkage for selectively rendering said linkage inoperative,

whereby said hoist means may be elevated to lift said bucket without closing said doors, said linkage including a pair of cross-arms pivotally connected together, links, pivot pins connecting said links to said arms, said latch member being pivoted to one of said arms and lockingly engageable with a latch pin carried by the other of said arms to prevent relative movement between said arms, said latch member having an upwardly open socket receiving said latch pin of said other arm whereby said latch member is automatically released upon removal ofupward force on said hoist means, and an operator means engageable with said latch member for selectively moving said latch member into its linkage locking position.

8. A digging bucket assembly comprising a bucket, doors pivotally mounted in a lower portion of said bucket for selectively closing a bottom of said bucket, hoist means for said bucket projecting thereabove, linkage between said hoist means and said doors for automatically closing said doors in response to upward movement of said hoist means, a latch member connected to said linkage for selectively rendering said linkage inoperative, whereby said hoist means may be elevated to lift said bucket without closing said doors, said linkage including a pair of cross-arms pivotally connected together, links, pivot pins connecting said links to said arms, said latch member being pivoted to one of said arms and lockingly engageable with a latch pin carried by the other of said arms to prevent relative movement between said arms, said latch member having an upwardly open socket receiving said latch pin of said other arm whereby said latch member is automatically released upon removal of upward force on said hoist means, and an operator means engageable with said latch member for selectively moving said latch member into its linkage locking position, said operator means including a lever pivotally mounted relative to said bucket and engaged with said latch member, an operator block pivotally mounted relative to said bucket, means connecting said operator block to said lever, said operator block projecting outwardly of said bucket and being engageable with the ground when said bucket is laid on its side to set said latch member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 358,075 Schofield Feb. 22, 1887 611,357 Dembinski' Sept. 27, 1898 878,585 Williams Feb. 11, 1908 924,719 Allen June 15, 1909 1,329,868 Williams Feb. 3, 1920 1,461,365 Morris July 10, 1923 1,474,707 Crowl Nov. 20, 1923 

